Travel Tips
SIM cards, money, apps and staying safe.
The practical questions come first: whether you need a visa or K-ETA, how to pay, how to get online, and what to do if something goes wrong. Travelers from 22 countries and regions are exempt from K-ETA until December 31, 2026. Korea's emergency numbers are 112 for police and 119 for fire or ambulance, and 1330 is the tourist help line, in English.
Cards work almost everywhere, but markets and older restaurants still prefer cash, so carrying some is worth it. A transit card is the first thing to buy on arrival. The weather guide sets out what each month feels like: the summer is humid with a rainy season in late June and July, and typhoons are possible through September.
Travel TipsBusan on a Rainy Day: What Closes and Where to Go Instead
Busan's best-known sights are on cliffs, beaches and cable cars — exactly the things that close in rain and wind. Here's what shuts, and the indoor plans that still make a good day.
Travel TipsVisit Busan Pass: Prices, Attractions and How It Works
A foreigner-only pass that bundles free entry to dozens of paid attractions — including Busan X the Sky, Spa Land and Busan Tower — into a time pass or a pick-a-few pass, with a card version that doubles as a transit card.
Travel TipsLuggage Storage in Busan: Lockers at Every Major Station
Coin lockers cover almost every subway stop, and Busan Station just tripled its oversized capacity — what fits, what it costs, and where the big lockers actually are.
Travel TipsMoney in Busan: Cards, Cash, ATMs and Tax Refunds
Your card will cover most of the trip. The exceptions are specific — market stalls, older restaurants, bus fare — and so is the amount of cash worth carrying.
Travel TipsBusan: Data, Wi-Fi and the Map App You Actually Need
Getting online in Busan is easy. The part that catches visitors out is that Google Maps cannot navigate in Korea, and no amount of mobile data fixes it.
Travel TipsStaying Safe in Busan: Numbers, Clinics and the Sea
Crime is rarely the problem in Busan. Water, weather and pharmacy hours are. The numbers to save, how to get an interpreter on the line, and what to do when the sea or the sky turns.
Travel TipsThe Best Time to Visit Busan: Season by Season
Busan has the mildest winter in mainland Korea and a summer that rains half the year's water in three months. Which one you get matters more here than in Seoul.
Travel TipsDoes T-money Work in Busan? Yes, but Know These Rules
One rechargeable card covers the subway, buses, taxis and convenience stores across the whole city — here's how to get one within minutes of landing.
Travel TipsDo You Need a Visa or K-ETA to Visit Busan?
Before you book anything else, check whether you need Korea's K-ETA travel authorization or a visa — and don't skip the e-Arrival card, even if you're exempt.